Feasibility and efficacy of an emotion-based online intervention for the treatment of anxiety and depression in people with cancer - Results of a randomized controlled trial.
Rüdiger Zwerenz, Angeliki Tsiouris, Anna Gomes et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a 10-week emotion-based online psycho-oncological self-help intervention (epos) for adults with cancer who were receiving treatment or aftercare. Participants were assigned to epos or treatment as usual plus an informational website. The intention-to-treat analysis found that anxiety and depression symptoms decreased in both groups, with no statistically significant between-group difference on the primary PHQ-ADS outcome. Per-protocol analyses favoured epos for PHQ-ADS, post-traumatic growth and attitudes towards online interventions, although uptake was limited.
Key findings
- Of 155 intervention participants, 55% completed the introductory unit and at least one additional unit.
- In intention-to-treat analyses, PHQ-ADS scores fell in both groups, but the between-group difference was not statistically significant.
- Per-protocol analyses found statistically significant benefits for epos in PHQ-ADS, post-traumatic growth and attitudes towards online interventions.
Why it matters
Online psycho-oncological support may offer an accessible self-help option, and the per-protocol findings suggest potential benefits for symptoms and other patient-reported outcomes. However, the absence of a significant primary outcome difference in the intention-to-treat analysis and low unit uptake temper the evidence for effectiveness. Feasibility of recruitment alone does not establish that the intervention will be used or improve outcomes in routine care.
What to keep in mind
Uptake was low, and the primary intention-to-treat comparison did not show a statistically significant between-group benefit. Positive findings were confined to per-protocol analyses.